Chapter 3: The Calm Before the Storm
"Wake up, lazy butts!" Nora shouted.
Grei quickly covered his ears and rolled over. "Aw, Nora, don't shout…"
"It's morning! It's morning! Iiiiit's mooooorniiing!" She sang.
Ren sat up and rubbed his head. "Sorry about the wakeup call, Grei. She's always like this when she's excited."
Looking to his right, Ren found Grei packing up his sleeping bag whilst still rolling.
"Oh? It's fine, Ren." Grei said after finally standing up. "Besides, a head start is what we need in preparation for what's to come."
"Right." Ren yawned. "Initiation's today…"
Brand had already changed into his combat clothes and was heading to the cafeteria for breakfast. For the entire morning, he avoided Ruby and her sister, Yang due to their little incident last night. What would they think of him if they knew he entered Beacon without finishing combat school?
Brand just brushed off the thought and entered the extravagant cafeteria. It was filled with different students eager to start their day. Brand figured that the initiation was most likely combat based. Grabbing a plate of hotcakes, he made his way to an empty table on the other side of the room.
'Looks like neither Ruby nor Yang's awake yet…'
"Hey, buddy!" Jaune said as he sat right beside Brand with another plate of hotcakes.
"Oh, hi Jaune. Sleep well?" Brand asked before stuffing his mouth.
"Not really… there was this guy who kept messing with my sleeping bag. I had to move to another room."
Brand eyed him. "Really now? Is that why I didn't see you in the ballroom last night?"
"Yeah… hey! Have you seen Ruby?"
Brand paused. "No."
"Eh, she's one of the only girls to enjoy their time with me. Well, besides my mom and my sisters…"
Brand just ate in silence.
"So, Brand. What do you think of the initiation?" Jaune asked.
"Probably just something to do with fighting."
"Well, I figured that much…" Jaune's eyes turned to the entrance of the cafeteria. "Oh! There she is!"
Right at the door stood Ruby and Yang who were eying the food.
"Huh, she's with another girl… we should invite them to our table!" Jaune looked at Brand. He had already cleaned his plate.
"Yeah, I'll see ya at the locker room. Bye." Brand said as he stood up and briskly walked out of the dining hall.
"Oh, that was good!" Sable yawned as he patted his stomach.
"You ate four plates…" Melo said with a concerned look.
"If I say I can handle it, I can handle it."
They walked out of the cafeteria and headed for the locker room where they kept their weapons.
"Number 626…" Sable browsed the lockers one by one before he came across his. "There we go!"
Sable pulled out Final Whisper and flicked it open. He then grabbed his extra packs of arrows along with his quiver and put them on.
"You know, it feels good to use these in combat again." Melo approached his friend with Vashta Nerada already attached to his back.
"Looking good, my friend!" Sable folded his bow and hung it on his shoulder. "Now, let's go kill stuff!"
"Please let it be Grimm."
"This is ridiculous!" Jaune shouted while walking across the room looking at a piece of paper. "There's no way I put my stuff in locker 636 yesterday! I would've remembered to count that high!"
"We should check the 300's down there." Brand followed with Cobalt Ravager firmly clipped to his sides.
"Oh why does this have to happen today…"
"I know! We'll have some sort of signal!" Nora raised her fist. "A secret signal so we can find each other in the forest!"
Ren was checking on his green sickle pistol things, while Grei was equipping his Hounds' Fangs. Nora had been talking all day about teams and was discussing plans with Ren and Grei, to their discomfort.
"Hey, can you guys imitate a sloth?!"
"Nora." Ren slid his weapons into his sleeves. "I don't think sloths make a lot of noise."
Nora's eyes widened. "That's why it's perfect! No one will suspect we're working together!"
Grei joined his friends after adjusting his gauntlets. "Ready to go, guys?"
"Definitely." Ren smiled back.
Ruben attached the Mark IV rocket propulsion modules to his boots.
"Alright, that should do."
"What are those?" Pyrrha asked.
"Well, Ms. Nikos. These are high propulsion, flight capable-"
"They're rocket boots." Avery interrupted.
"They are not rocket boots! They are modules that I attach onto my boots."
"So they're rockets on boots?"
Ruben face palmed. "I give up."
Avery let out a laugh. "So Pyrrha. Where's your weapons?"
"Oh, they're in the lockers down the hallway. I just decided to go with you since your lockers were nearby."
"Okay. Come on then. I want to see your spear gun thingy again." Avery said after putting on Solstice Reaver.
"Did you hear about the teams?" Harmon asked.
"Teams?" Mond said while putting on his gloves.
"Yeah." Weiss answered. "We will be splitting up into teams. I don't know how but we could probably choose our teammates."
"Oh! In that case I want you and Harmie in my team!"
Weiss laughed. "As if I'd be on the same team as a mongrel such as yourself!"
"What's a mong-rel?" Mond asked Harmon.
"Not a compliment." Harmon put Relentless Harmony on the back of his waist.
"Hey, is that your piano?" Weiss asked.
"Uh, yeah."
"Ooh… I never thought it would be your weapon as well." Weiss touched the sword.
"Well, it's helpful for dual tasking."
Weiss then looked away. Her eyes lit up as she spotted a girl with red hair and combat armor.
"There she is!" Weiss said.
"Who?" Harmon asked.
"Pyrrha Nikos. Top of her class in Sanctum."
"Ooooh…" Mond looked at her eyes glazed. "Is she strong?"
"Oh yes she is. Now that's someone I'd want on my team." Weiss started walking towards Pyrrha. "I'm going to ask her. Don't worry, I'll save you a spot, Harmon!"
"How 'bout me?" Mond asked but Weiss was already out of hearing range.
"Don't worry." Harmon put his hand on the faunus' shoulder. "I'll make sure there's room for the three of us."
Pyrrha arrived at her locker along with Avery. At that moment, a girl in a white combat dress walked up to them.
"Hello! Weiss Schnee." She introduced herself.
"Oh… Avery Daggry."
"Pyrrha Nikos."
"Yeah, I know who you are." Weiss told Pyrrha. "The most outstanding student in Mistral."
"I wouldn't put it that way…"
"Sorry, she's very humble." Avery held Pyrrha's shoulders.
"Right…" Weiss said. "So, Pyrrha have you put any thought into who your teammates will be? I'm sure everyone will want to have such a strong and well known individual such as yourself on their team."
"Well, I was considering Avery here to be part of my team."
"Alright... I was actually thinking we could be on the same team together."
"That sounds amaaaazing!" Avery exclaimed.
"I have no objections." Pyrrha responded.
"Great!" Weiss exclaimed before turning around.
"Uh… what's with her weird face?" Avery asked.
"You know what else is great?" A boy with blonde hair stood in between Avery and Weiss. "Me, Jaune Arc. Nice to meet you."
"You again?!" Weiss asked mockingly.
"Nice to meet you, Jaune." Pyrrha waved at him.
"Yeah..." Avery followed.
"Yeah, yeah…" Jaune brushed Pyrrha and Avery to the side. "So Weiss, I couldn't help but notice your fondness over me."
"Oh you've got to be kidding me." Weiss crossed her arms.
"Don't worry. No need to be embarrassed." Jaune said with a confident tone. "So I've been hearing rumors about teeeaams… I was thinking you and me would make a good one. What do you say?"
"I think the teams are comprised of four students each." Pyrrha said.
"Are they?" Avery asked.
Jaune then darted to Pyrrha and Avery. "Well then, hot stuffs. Play your cards right and maybe you could join up with the winning team."
"Jaune, is it?" Weiss quickly dashed in between them. "Do you have any clue to who you're talking to?"
"Not in the slightest, Snow Angel."
Weiss looked like she was about to blow. "This is Pyrrha."
"Hello again!" Pyrrha waved once more.
"Pyrrha graduated top of her class at Sanctum." Weiss explained.
"Never heard of it." Jaune replied.
"Ah! She's won the Mistral regional tournaments four years in a row! A new record!"
"The what?"
To Avery, Jaune was looking more and more stupid by the second.
"Well, she's also on the front of every 'Pumpkin Pete's Marshmallow Flakes' box." Avery added.
Jaune gasped loudly. "That's you?! They only do that for star athletes and cartoon characters!"
"Yeah, it was pretty cool." Pyrrha said. "Sadly, the cereal isn't very good for you."
"So after hearing all this, do you really think you're in a position to ask her to be on your team?" Weiss got back on topic.
"I guess not… sorry." Jaune looked down.
"Hey, don't be mean…" Avery tried to tell Weiss.
"Actually, Jaune." Pyrrha walked up to him. "I think you'd make a great leader."
"D'oh! Stop it!" Jaune's face lit up.
"Seriously, please stop it." Weiss said. "This kind of behavior should not be encouraged!"
"Sounds like Pyrrha's onboard for team Jaune." Jaune turned to Avery. "You're joining as well. Right, beautiful?"
"Uh… sure. As long as my friend, Ruben, can join too." Avery had a confused look on her face.
"Ooh!" Jaune faced Weiss again. "Looks like all the spots are filled up. Now, I'm not supposed to do this but maybe I could pull a few strings, find a place for ya. What do you say?"
"Alright!" Weiss backed up. "That's a bit too close! Pyrrha? A little help please?"
After a second, a spear came flying towards Jaune, hitting the hood of his jacket and sending him flying to the wall where he was pinned down.
"I'm sorry!" Pyrrha apologized.
"Hey, it's the gun spear!" Avery said with a smile.
Brand kept his distance from Jaune. He did not want to get involved with more people, especially if Jaune was around. Everything seemed like it was going well between Jaune and the three girls… until one of them threw a spear and pinned him to the wall.
"Would all first year students please report to Beacon Cliff for initiation." Glynda's voice echoed through the locker room. "Again: all first year students report to Beacon Cliff immediately."
"Time to go." Brand exited the room.
"Well, you heard the woman." Avery tapped Weiss' shoulders. "Nice meeting you, Weiss!"
"Likewise…"
As they exited the locker room, a voice boomed from behind. "Schnee!"
"Ruben?" Avery turned around along with Weiss.
"I never thought a Crimson would be coming to this school. It just makes this place more unbearable." Weiss crossed her arms.
Pushing up his glasses, Ruben let out a chuckle. "At least our family doesn't use a faunus work force."
"That is just a bunch of slander and lies!"
"I'd like to look around your facilities then…" Ruben pulled out his drone.
"I'd rather die than let dunces like you enter Schnee territory!"
"Hey!" Avery raised her arms. "Stop! Please?! Ruben, I just met her! We were becoming friends!"
"We were?" Weiss asked.
"Yes." Avery said confidently. "Weiss, this is my friend! You do not go and insult his heritage!"
"Damn right." Ruben smiled.
"That goes for you too, Ruben."
"Why do I get two strikes?!"
Avery crossed her arms. "Now let's all be friends in case we're in the same team."
Weiss and Ruben glared at each other before speaking at the same time. "No."
"If you'll excuse me…" Weiss started walking away. "…I'm heading to Beacon cliff."
Avery pouted at Ruben. "Can you at least try to be nice to people?"
"Hey, a man's gotta defend his family." Ruben adjusted his lab coat. "Let's go, Aves. Destiny awaits."
"You sure?" Aurum asked Velvet. "No hint or helpful tips?"
"Sorry. Can't spoil you." Velvet smiled.
"I know it's going to be in the Emerald forest…" Meroch added.
"Well, you're right there." Velvet assured.
Aurum, Meroch, Ace and their newfound friend, Velvet were on their way to Beacon Cliff. So far, Aurum and Meroch had conversed with the second year bunny faunus and had gotten acquainted with her thanks to Ace.
Aurum looked at Meroch. Ace was still clinging on his arm, giving Aurum a stare.
"Why is she still like that?" Aurum asked. "She wasn't like that in front of Velvet."
"Hm?" Velvet glanced at Ace. "Ace? Are you okay?"
Ace just nodded.
"She probably doesn't like you." Meroch told Aurum.
"What?! But I'm a nice person…" Aurum went over to Ace and put on a funny face. "Look, I'm not scary…"
"Roch, get him away." Ace whispered.
"You heard her." Meroch said.
Aurum sighed. "Fine. Be like that. So, Velvet!"
"We're here!" Velvet exclaimed.
They had reached the start of a pathway leading down a hill.
"Take this path right here and it'll lead you straight to Beacon Cliff." Velvet explained.
"Thanks, Velvet. I appreciate you showing us where to go." Meroch said.
"What he said." Aurum started walking down the path.
Meroch followed as well with Ace behind him. She then turned around to wave at Velvet.
"Good luck you guys!" Velvet shouted while waving.
Brand looked around him. Students were standing on numerous pedestals facing the edge of the cliff overlooking the Emerald Forest.
'This place should be teeming with Grimm.' Brand patted his two axes.
Looking to his right, he spotted Ruby in the middle her sister, Yang, and Jaune. She glanced at him, making him look away in order to avoid eye contact. At that moment, three people arrived and took their places on the pedestal. Ozpin, with a mug of coffee in hand, and Glynda then appeared in front of them.
"That looks like everyone." Glynda told Ozpin.
"I shall start then." Ozpin cleared his throat. "For years you have trained to become warriors and today, your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest."
"Now…" Glynda continued. "I'm sure many of you have heard rumors about the assignment of teams. Well, allow us to put an end to your confusion."
'Teams?' Brand started sweating.
"Each of you will be given teammates. Today."
'Oh no.'
"These teammates will be with you for the rest your time here at Beacon. So it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you could work well." Ozpin explained further. "That being said… the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years."
"Aw great…" Brand couldn't stop himself from saying that out loud.
"After you've partnered up, make your way to the other end of the forest." Ozpin said. "You will meet opposition along the way. Do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path… or you will die."
"Do the other students count as everything?" Sable asked Melo.
"Hey, shh!" Melo put his finger on his mouth.
"You will be monitored and graded for the duration of the initiation. But our instructors will not intervene." Ozpin said. "You will find an abandoned temple at the end of the path containing several relics. Each pair must choose one and return to the top of the cliff. You will guard that item as well as your standing and we will grade you appropriately. Are there any questions?"
"Yeah, um… sir?"
Malkaush heard a wimpy voice to his right.
"Good! Now take your positions." Ozpin ignored the boy.
Malkaush smiled as he prepared Charlotte's Web for battle.
Mond slid a slice of cheese into his mouth and smiled. Harmon just shook his head and took out Relentless Harmony.
"Um… sir?" The same blonde boy who spoke a second ago said. "I've got um… a question."
Harmon heard a quick sound on his left. Weiss had already launched off the cliff and was currently in the air.
"Woohoo!" Mond gleefully shouted before he was sprung into the air as well.
"So… this landing strategy thing… uh... what is it? You're like dropping us off or something?"
Ruben laughed at the blonde's idiotic question.
"No." Ozpin answered the Blonde. "You will be falling."
"Hey!" Avery punched him in the shoulder. "Get ready!"
Looking to his left, he noticed that it was almost their turn to be launched off the cliff.
"Oh… I see-" Brand was instantly launched into the air, cutting off Jaune's voice.
'Eh, I'm sure he can handle himself.' Brand noticed that he was quickly plummeting to the ground. Instead of taking out his weapons, Brand kept them holstered. He leaned forward, head first, and put on his goggles. The position sped his body up until he crashed into the trees and into the ground, forming a Brand sized crater.
Brand got out of the crater, wiping the dirt off his clothes and coughing. His body glowed bright blue as his aura rapidly healed.
Mond swallowed his cheese in mid-air as he aimed for a tree taller than the rest. Flicking out his claws, he grabbed the trunk and spiraled his way down onto the ground.
Melo charged up balls of wind dust in both of his hands and threw them at the ground. The wind blew against him, slowing his descent before he latched onto the shadow of a nearby short tree. He came out of the darkness and pulled his mask up.
Sable flew through the air with his bow in his hands. He pulled out three ice arrows from his quiver and aimed at the tree line. His eyes turned white as he processed the points of the trees. Sable then fired all three arrows. The first hit a tall tree, freezing the top. The second hit a tree below that as well as the edge of the frozen tree. The third hit the ground, attaching to the second frozen tree and formed a ramp. Sable landed on the ice ramp and skated down onto the ground, safely.
Ruben activated his propulsion devices. Fire came out from the sides of his boots, allowing him to float. He then spotted what looked like a meteor about to reach the tree line. It was basically a ball of flame at this point.
"WOOHOOO!" Avery screamed as she approached the brush. She activated Solstice Reaver and chucked out enough flame to activate her semblance. Combining these, she managed to turn herself into a makeshift rocket but ended up burning the trees along the way.
Malkaush grinned and let out his strings. The wires extended and caught themselves onto the trees. He then swiftly swung down using the branches and landed with a thud.
Harmon played a few keys on Relentless Harmony, emitting blasts of wind dust. The force of the wind slowed down his fall, allowing him to land safely.
Grei activated his semblance and slowly floated his way onto the ground.
"Huh, that was easy enough…"
Ace quickly took out both pieces of Krov and put them together in mid-air. She spun the giant shuriken over her head and landed it onto a nearby tree trunk. The blade cut through the entire tree until Ace's feet touched the ground.
Meroch got out his chakram and threw it at the ground. Wind dust discharged from the weapon and produced an air current, slowing his descent before he landed with a front roll. Meroch then grabbed his chakram and broke into a sprint.
Aurum plummeted into the Emerald Forest. He got out Radiant Shard and fired it at the ground. The recoil slowed his speed but he was still falling. He transformed his weapon back into its shield form and placed it under his feet. Aurum adjusted his body so that the front of the shield was facing downwards. He landed on the side of a curving tree trunk and rode his way down. The shield screeched to a halt before Aurum kicked it up and attached it back onto his hand.
Brand started running through the forest. He didn't know what he was going to face or who he was going to meet. All he knew that this was the start… the beginning of his time at Beacon. This was where he was going to prove himself.
